Reflecting on my themes for the year

Today marks the halfway point of 2020. Which means we’re halfway done with this wretched year. I wanted to check in on my themes for 2020 and see how I’m doing. You can go back and read my post, but I feel like I’ve done a good job this year staying focused on my themes:

I’m a graduate student. I finished two classes in the spring semester and now only have one class and my thesis to go. I’m planning on graduating in May of 2021. My classes were interesting even though the last third of the class was conducted online because of the Coronavirus pandemic. I was really thrilled to be selected as the School for Journalism’s Outstanding Masters Student for 2020. I’m looking forward to taking a theory class and starting to work through my thesis.
I’m a healthy person. I started off the year great, eating a healthier diet and increasing activity. And I lost weight. Then, Coronavirus forced us all to work home. I haven’t been eating too badly, but my activity level is way down. I need to look for ways to be more active when I don’t feel safe going to the gym.
I’m a type designer. I’ve spent a lot of time working on type this year. I’m in the process of reworking some of my old designs, and I’ve been experimenting with variable type. I’ve been reading and learning about best practices and I feel good about the direction I’m heading. I look forward to releasing what I’ve been working on later this year.
I’m a reader. I started off the year strong. I read a bunch of books early in the year and was well on my way to meeting my Goodreads goal. But after the library closed because of the pandemic, I haven’t been reading as many novels. I have been reading comics. Lots of comics. Marvel Unlimited has been a great addition to my iPad. So my reading hasn’t taken the form I expected, but I have been reading.

I’m happy with where I am at the midpoint of 2020, especially considering how chaotic the year has been. I need to keep working on being healthy — really focusing on increasing my activity. And although reading comics is fun, I do want to read more novels and non-fiction.

Bob Wertz writes about design, technology and pop culture at Sketchbook B. Bob is a Columbia, South Carolina-based designer, researcher, college instructor, husband and dad. He’s particularly obsessed with typography, the creative process and the tools we use to create. And he wears a mask to protect his community.